Summary: The Heiress of Winterwood (Whispers on the Moors #1) by Sarah E.. Ladd
Amelia Barrett, heiress to an estate nestled in the English moors,
defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend’s baby. But
she knows she can’t do it alone and finds herself in the surprising position of
asking Graham, the child’s father—a man she’s never met before—to marry her.
When the
baby vanishes with little more than an ominous ransom note hinting at her
whereabouts, Amelia and Graham are driven to test the boundaries of their love
for this little one.
Amelia’s
detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and
shaken, she’s forced to examine her soul and face her one weakness: pride.
Graham’s
strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but
chasing perfection has kept him a prisoner of his own discipline. And away from
the family he has sworn to love and protect.
To save the
child they’ve both come to love—and any hopes of preserving their fledgling
love—both must learn to relinquish control so they can embrace the future ahead
of them. (from Goodreads).
Book Review: The Heiress of Winterwood (Whispers on the Moors #1) by Sarah E. Ladd
When Winterwood heiress Amelia Barratt’s friend dies in childbirth, she feels compelled to propose to the baby’s father, Captain Graham Sterling. He refuses her proposal. Danger follows. The baby Lucy is taken hostage and a large sum of money is demanded for her release. Amelia and Graham must work together to find the culprit and free the baby.
The Heiress of Winterwood is the first
installment in the Whispers on the Moors series by Sarah E. Ladd, published by Thomas Nelson. The story is set in Darbury, England 1814 and is about heiress
Amelia Barratt who takes care of baby Lucy following her friend’s death in childbirth.
The baby’s father Graham Sterling has never met Amelia, but on his arrival to
pick up the baby, she proposes a marriage of convenience, even though she is already
engaged. Captain Sterling is surprised and
overwhelmed and refuses the proposal initially. When Amelia ends her engagement
and reveals her plan to marry Captain Sterling instead, her family is livid. Baby
Lucy disappears and a ransom note is presented. Plenty of people have motives
for the abduction. Frantic with worry, Graham and Amelia work together to get
the baby released find the culprit and try to get real about their feelings for
each other.
Main character heiress Amelia Barrett is an opinionated
and assertive character, but also in the hold of her selfish and greedy
family. She seemed to show her strength in the wrong places while letting
people trample all over her in others. She is my favorite as she seemed a
realistic character with noticeable strengths and weaknesses.
Supporting character Edward Littleton is Amelia’s fiancée who
seems a reasonable match, but he shows his real colors pretty soon. He is my
least favorite character because he has no intention at all of being a good
husband to Amelia and only goes after her money.
The writing of The Heiress of Winterwood is beautiful and vivid
with great dialogue and amusing parts. The Downton Abby-like vibe of the story was
complete with descriptions of opulent environments, interiors and lifestyle
which for me were the best part. The family’s reaction to Amelia going
against their wishes when proposing to Captain Sterling was the worst part for
me, but it added and excellent dramatic element to the plot.
The relationship between Amelia and Graham develops when they
get opportunity share some secret moments alone. As they get to know each other
more, they both become pleasantly surprised by the other and feelings seem to
deepen.
I enjoyed reading about how Amanda kept her Bible and book of
psalms close to feel guided and comforted even when she had doubts and needed
help to trust and believe. Graham was lead to God by a trusted fellow
sailor and father figure in his life.
Conclusion: this is story with a Downton Abbey-like vibe which
centers on the drama of rescuing a kidnapped baby and the added elements of romance
and faith. I can’t wait to read the next installment already in place on my
Kindle.
Anyone who enjoys a historical romance plot with
a spiritual and drama element would love this story. Similar authors to explore
might be Julie Klassen or Carrie Turansky.
All opinions in this review are completely my
own.
My rating: 4 stars / 5
Main reasons: great mixture between romance and
drama, great character building,
Get your copy here:
Book Details
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson; 41581st edition (April 8, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781401688356
ISBN-13: 978-1401688356
About The Author
Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period — the clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would’ve looked like in era. It wasn’t until 2010 that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the first book in the Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance. Ladd also has more than ten years of marketing experience. She holds degrees in public relations and marketing and lives in Indiana with her family and spunky Golden Retriever. Author's website https://sarahladd.com/
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